Coin-operated vending machines

ABSTRACT

A coin-operated vending machine includes a multi-stage binary counter for totalizing the value of coinage inserted into the machine. Numerical outputs of the counter are connected to price setting switches for determining the prices at which commodities are to be vended and the totalized value of coinage inserted is registered by the numerical outputs. Change is given when the value of the inserted coinage exceeds that of the selected commodity.

United States Patent Bowring 51 Nov. 21, 1972 [54] COIN-OPERATED VENDING3,508,636 4/1970 Shirley ..l94/1O MACHINES 3,482,670 12/1969 Yamashita..194/10 [72] Inventor: David John Bowling wolverhamp 3,323,626 6/1967Abe ..l94/l0 England Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assignee: G-K-N.Sankey Limited, Bilston, Assistant Examiner-Thomas Kocovsky StaffordCounty, England Attorney-Lowry, Rinehart, Markva & Smith [22] Filed:Dec. 8, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 96,222 A coin-operatedvending machine includes a multistage binary counter for totalizing thevalue of coinage- [30] Forelgn Apphcat'on Pnomy Data inserted into themachine. Numerical outputs of the Dc 0 9 9 Great i i 0,205/ 9 counterare connected to price setting switches for determining the prices atwhich commodities are to be [52] U.S. Cl ..l94/10, 194/1 N ven an htotalized value of in g ins r ed is [51] Int. Cl ..G07f 11/00 registeredby the numerical outputs. Change is given [58] Field of Search ..194/10,1 N, 4 when the value of the inserted coinage exceeds that of theselected commodity. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTSRosehagen 194/10 10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDNHY21 m2 $103,229

'SHEEI 1 OF 2 WWW, 'M r Aim/ ways COIN-OPERATED VENDING MACHINESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to a coin-operated vending machine of the kind which includescoin responsive, pulse-generating means associated with, and operableupon, insertion of each denomination of coinage the machine accepts, aplurality of commodity selection elements, counting means for totalizingthe value of coinage inserted and recording the totalized value, and forsubtracting from the totalized value the value of commodity selected andrecording the residual value, dispensing means operable for dispensingselected commodities in response to actuation of the commodity selectionelements, and coin payout means operable to dispense changecorresponding in value to said residual value.

2. Description of the Prior Art French Pat. No. 1,568,430 discloses acoin-operated vending machine of the kind referred to in which the valueof commodities selected is subtracted from the totalized value in orderto ensure that sufficient credit exists to pay for the selectedcommodities. Once the counting means has established that there issufficient credit, the dispensing means can be operated to dispense theselected commodities.

If the value of the selected commodities exceeds the totalized valuethen subtraction results in over-subtraction and in order to restore thecounting means to a condition wherein it registers the totalized valueso that the customer is once again credited with the amount of coinageinserted into the machine, the value of the selected commodities must beadded to the over-subtracted value. Consequently a machine according tothis French Patent must include means for restoring the counting meansto a condition in which it registers said totalized value thusincreasing the complexity and hence the cost of the counting system ofthe machine.

The instant invention dispenses with the need for restoring means byproviding an improved coinoperated vending machine of the kind referredto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The counting means includes a multi-stagecounter having outputs thereof connected to each of a plurality ofsettable elements of price setting means whereby the machine canestablish whether sufficient coinage has been inserted thereinto to payfor a selected commodity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a vending machine controlcircuit for establishing the existence of sufficient credit and forpermitting subsequent dispensing of selected commodities and change, and

FIG. 2 is a detailed schematic representation of a part of the controlcircuit shown in FIG. 1 and illustrates the connections betweennumerical inputs and outputs of a counter and a price setting switch.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The machine comprises a cointesting and evaluation mechanism, a set of commodity selection elements,a

commodity dispensing mechanism for dispensing selected commodities: achange dispensing mechanism and a control circuit. The constructionalfeatures of the coin testing and evaluation mechanism and the commodityand change dispensing mechanisms are well known to those skilled in theart.

The control circuit includes a multi-stage reversible binary counterwhich, in the embodiment of FIG. 1 of the drawings,'is designated byreference numeral 10 and comprises a multi-input circuit driving fourbinary stages, these being 2, 2 2 2 stages. The binary counter 10 is,therefore, capable of counting from zero, when the four binary stagesare in their 0" stages, up to 15 when the binary stages are all in their1 states. The binary counter has a plurality of inputs 40 to the binarystages, thereof, there being eight such inputs 40 in the embodiment ofthe drawings. The eight inputs 40 correspond one to each of the valuesin the numerical range l through 8 and each input 40 is connected to themulti-input circuit so that when a particular input is energized, acount corresponding to the value of the input is caused to be added tothebinary counter stages.

The binary counter 10 has two sets of outputs, one set 50 comprisingfour outputs connected one to each of the binary stages and registeringthe state of the respective binary stages, and a set 60 of eightnumerical outputs corresponding one to each of the numerical values 1through 8." The numerical outputs 60 are connected to the binary stagesin such a way as to decode the states of the binary stages and expressthe values registered by the binary stages in the decimal system. Thus,for example, when the 2, 2 and 2 binary stages are in their 1 stages andthe 2 binary stage is in its 0 state, an output signal will appear atthe 7 numerical output 60. Similarly output signals will appear at the2, 2, and 2 binary stage outputs 50.

The binary counter 10 is convertible between two conditions, in one ofwhich it effects totalization of signals impressed upon the inputs 40thereof and in a second condition of which the counter 10 can performsubtraction operations. The counter is convertible between these twoconditions by a MEMORY circuit 11 which, in the machine stand-bycondition, is set to the totalization condition and which, when a validselection is made as a result of actuation of a commodity selectionelement, is set to the subtract" condition.

A plurality of coin-operated, pulse-generating switches, one for eachdenomination of coinage that the machine will accept, are associatedwith the coin testing and evaluation mechanism. In the embodiment of thedrawings, four coin switches 13, 14, 15 and 16 are provided and thesecorrespond to coins of values 1, 2, 5 and 10. Pulses generated uponoperation of the coin switches 13, 14 and 15 are directed to the l," 2and 5 inputs 40 whilst pulses generated by the coin switch 16 are feddirectly to the 2 input and AND 8 inputs 40 from the coin switches 13,14 and Prior to the insertion of the coinage by the intending customer,the machine is in a stand-by condition wherein the MEMORY circuit 11 isset to the totalizing condition and the subsequent insertion of thecoinage will result in the counter totalizing the value of coinageinserted. In the example cited above, in which coins of value 10, 2 and1 were inserted into the machine, the totalized value will be 13 and the2, 2 and 2 binary stages will be in their 1 stages whilst the 2 binarystage will be in its state. With the binary stages in these states,output signals will appear at the 2?, 2 and 2 binary stage outputs 50and at the 8 and numerical outputs 60. The totalized value as registeredby the numerical output 60 is used in determining whether or notsufficient coinage has been inserted into the machine to pay for asubsequently selected commodity.

The numerical inputs 40 and numerical outputs 60 of the counter 10 areconnected to each of a plurality of price setting switches provided onefor each price of commodity that can be vended by the machine. Theembodiment of the drawings includes three price setting switches, eachcomprising as shown in FIG. 1, two units 17 and 27, 18 and 28, and 19and 29. Units 17, 18, 19 are associated with the numerical outputs 60and the other units 27, 28, 29 are associated with the numerical inputs40.

The price setting switch comprising the units 17 and 27 is shown ingreater detail in FIG. 2. The unit 27 includes two banks 51, 52 of 16electrical contacts which correspond to values ranging from 0 to and arearranged in circumferentially spaced relation with equal angular spacingbetween adjacent contacts. The unit 17 also includes two banks 53, 54 ofl6 electrical contact which likewise correspond to values ranging from0" through 15 and are arranged in circumferentially spaced relationship.The banks 51, 52, 53 and 54 are shown, in FIG. 2, separately from oneanother but, in practice, they are arranged in tiers.

Each bank 51, 52, 53 and 54 of electrical contacts has an electricalcontactor 55, 56, 57 and 58 associated therewith and the electricalcontactors are mounted for rotation about a common axis and arerotatably fast with one another.

The four banks 51, 52, 53 and 54 of electrical contacts of each pricesetting switch and their associated electrical contactors S5, 56, 57 and58 are mutually insulated and are arranged in tiers with the contactorsset in pre-determined angular relationship with one another.

The contactor 55 is in the form of an annulus having a pair ofcircumferentially spaced projections 61, 62 extending radially outwardlytherefrom, the spacing between the projections 61 and 62 being equal tothe spacing between the 0 contact and the 8" contact of the bank 51 ofcontacts so that, when the projection 61 registers with the 0 contact,the projection 62 registers with the 8 contact. The 1 through 7 contactsare numerical inputs 40 respectively of the counter 10.

The electrical contactor 56 associated with the bank 52 of contacts isgenerally annular with a part 63 of the circumference thereof relieved,the angular extent of the part 63 being greater than the angular spacingbetween the 0 and the 8 contact of the bank 52 of contacts. The 8contact of the bank 52 is connected through the time delay mechanism 12to the 8 input of the counter 10. The contactors 55 and 56 of the unit27 are both connected to a line 64 by fixed wipers 65 and 66respectively.

The contactor 57 comprises a pair of circumferential portions 67 and 68which are mutually insulated and are spaced from one another by anangular distance less than the angular spacing between an adjacent pairof contacts of the bank 53 of contacts. The contactor 68 is ofsufficient circumferential extent to bridge the 0 to 15 contacts whenthe trailing edge 75 thereof is in register with the 0 contact whilstthe circumferential extent of contactor 67 is just sufficient to bridgecontacts 0 through 7 when the trailing edge 76 thereof is in registerwith the 0 contact.

The l" through 7 and 15 contacts of the bank 53 are respectivelyconnected to the 1 through 7" and 8 numerical outputs 60 of the counter10. A fixed anguiarly spaced wiper 69 is associated with the contactor57 and is arranged in radial alignment with the 7" contact of the bank53. The wiper 69 is connected to a line 71 and serves to connect the 7contact of the bank 53 to the line 71 when one of the armate portions67, 68 of the contactor 57 bridges the radial gap between the 7" and 8contacts and the wiper 69.

The circumferential portion 68 is operative when the contactor 57 is setto a price within the range of one to seven to transmit signals from thenumerical outputs 60 via the wiper 69. The circumferential portion 68 isno longer operative when the trailing edge thereof is moved beyond the 7contact, instead signals from the numerical output 60 are transmitted tothe line 71 by the circumferential portion 67.

The electrical contactor 58 associated with the bank 54 of contacts isgenerally annular and is provided with a radially projecting portion 72whose circumferential extent is equal to the angular spacing between the0" and the 7 contacts of the bank 54. A wiper 73 connects the 0 contactto a line 74 when the contactor 58 is set to a price within the range ofzero to seven and the 8" contact to a line 74 when the contactor 58 isrotated to a price position exceeding value 7 wherein I thecircumferential portion 72 thereof registers with the 8 contact of bank54.

When the circumferential portion 67 is operative and serves to transmitsignals from the numerical outputs 60 to the line 71 the circumferentialportion 72 will register with the 8 contact of the bank 54. The trailingedge 76, of the circumferential portion 67 and the circumferentialportion 72 then together determine the price at which commoditionassociated with that price setting switch can be vended. For examplewhen the I price setting switch is to be set to correspond to a valueThe settings of the contactors 55 through 58 of each price settingswitch determine the price at which the commodities associated with thatprice setting switch are to be vended. For example, if the commoditiesassociated with the price setting switch comprising the units 17 and 27are of value 5 then the contactors 55 through 58 are set in thepositions shown in FIG. 2. If the commodities associated with the pricesetting switch comprising the units 18 and 28 thereof are of value 7,then the contactors 55 through 58 of the units 18 and 28 thereof will bein positions displaced through an angular spacing corresponding to theangular spacing between alternate contacts of the banks of contactsthereof relative to the position shown in FIG. 2.

It will be seen that, when the price setting switches are set forcommodities of value less than 8, the contactors 56 and 58 thereof willnot be in positions wherein the 8 contacts of the banks 52 and 54 areconnected to the lines 64 and 74 respectively. Thus, the line 74 willnot be connected to the 8 numerical output of the counter nor will the 8input of the counter 10 be connected to the line 64. A signal derivedfrom the source connected to the 0 contact of the bank 54 will however,appear on the line 74 but there will only be a signal on the line 71 ifthe trailing edge 75 of the circumferential portion 68 registers withthe zero contact or if the circumferential portion 68 registers with acontact which is connected to a numerical output 60 having a signalthereon.

If the price setting switch comprising the units 19 and 29 correspondsto commodities of value 10, then the contactors 55 through 58 thereofwill be in positions displaced through angular distances equal to theangular spacing between contacts whose values differ by six relative tothe positions shown in FIG. 2. Thus, when a price setting switch is setto a value of 10, the projection 61 of the contactor 55 will registerwith the 2 contact of bank 51 whilst the unrelieved portion of thecontact on 56 will register with the 8" contact of the bank 52. Thetrailing edge 75 of the circumferential portion 68 of contactor 57 willbe clear of the 7 contact of bank 53 and the circumferential portion 68will be inoperative. The trailing edge 76 of the circumferential portion67 will register with the 2 contact of bank 53 so that all of thenumerical outputs of value greater than 2 are connected through thecircumferential portion 67 to the line 71, and the circumferentialportion 72 of the contactor 58 will register with the 8 contact of thebank 54 to connect the 8 numerical output 60 with the line 74.

A plurality of switches 22 through 26 are associated one with eachcommodity selection element and are connected to the line 64 of the unit27, 28, 29 of the price setting switch corresponding to the price ofcommodity the machine will vend upon actuation of that commodityselection element. In the embodiment of the drawings, switches 22 and 23correspond to different commodities of the same price and are bothconnected to line 64 of the unit 27, likewise switches 24 and 25correspond to different commodities whose prices difier from thoseassociated with switches 22 and 23 and switch 26 is connected to line 64of unit 29. Thus, in the example given above, the commodity selectionswitches 22 and 23 correspond to commodities of price 5, switches 24 and25 correspond to commodities of price 7 and switch 26 corresponds to acommodity of price 10. The switches 22 through 26 are also connected tothe input of an OR element 30 the output of which is applied to theMEMORY circuit 11 to set the same in the subtraction connection inresponse to receipt of a signal from one of the switches 22 through 26.A mechanical, electrical or electronic interlock system is provided toprevent the actuation of more than one of the commodity selectionswitches 22 through 26 at any one time.

The lines 71 and 74 of the unit 17, 18, 19 of each price setting switchare connected to inputs of a NAND element 81 whose output is connectedto a further NAND element 82 which is cross-coupled with another NANDelement 83 to one of the inputs of which a RESET signal can be appliedby a line 84. The output of each NAND element 82 of the unit 17, 18, 19of each price setting switch is connected by a line.85 to the input ofan AND element 20, see FIG. 1, and is also connected to the input of anamplifier 86 whose output is connected to a command relay 87 which whenenergized, permits operation of the machine commodity selection switches22 through 26 and the corresponding dispensing mechanism. Thus, in theexample given above, the command relay 87 of units 17, 18', 19 permitoperation of switches 22 and 23, 24 and 25, 26 respectively.

The output of the AND element 20 is connected to a coin block mechanism21 which, when a signal appears at each of the inputs of the AND element20 as will occur when an intending customer has inserted coinage ofvalue exceeding the highest price at which commodities are to be vended,operates to project an armature into the coin insertion path to preventthe insertion of further coinage. The MEMORY circuit 11 is alsoconnected to the coin block mechanism 21 and is additionally connectedto a reject block 31 and an escrow operating mechanism 32 so as toenergize the same when one of the commodity selection switches 22through 26 is actuated if the associated command relay 87 is energized.

The operation of the control circuit thus far described is as follows:assuming that the machine is in the stand-by condition with the MEMORYcircuit 11 in the totalizing condition and with the binary stages of thecounter 10 in their 0 states, the insertion of, for example, coinage ofvalue 8 in the form of coins of denominations l, 2 and 5, results in theapplication of pulses to the l, 2 and 5 inputs 40 of the counter 10causing conversion of the 2 binary stage to its l state. With the 2binary stage in its 1 state, a signal appears at the 8 numerical output60 which signal is .transmitted to the 8 contacts of the banks 53 and 54of electrical contacts of the unit 17, l8, 19 of each price settingswitch.

The contactor 57 of the unit 17 is connected to the 8 numerical outputby the circumferential portion 68 and the contactor 58 of the unit 17 isconnected to the 0" output by the circumferential portion 72 andconsequently a signal will be applied to each of the inputs of the NANDelement 81. With signals applied at both inputs of the NAND element 81,no signal will be generated at the output of the NAND element 81. Theabsence of a signal at the output of the NAND element 81 is registeredand memorized by the cross-coupled NAND elements 82 and 83 and a signalis applied from the output of the NAND element 82 to the amplifier 86 toenergize the command relay 87 and to the line 85 and hence one of theinputs of the AND elements 20. Energization of the command relay 87permits the operation of switches 22, 23 and the commodity dispensingmechanism of the machine to dispense commodities of value 5.

In a similar manner, the command relay 87 of the unit 18 whosecontactors 57 and 58 are set to a value of seven, will be energized. Thetrailing edge 76 of the circumferential portion 67 of the unit 19 willbe clear of the 2 contact of the bank 53 whilst the leading edge 90thereof. will be in register with the 9 contact of that bank and sincethe trailing edge 75 of the circumferential portion 68 will be clear ofthe 7 contact and hence the wiper 69 of the 8 numerical output 60 of thecounter will not be connected to the line 71 by the circumferentialportion 68. The contactor 58 will be in a position wherein the trailingedge 91 thereof is clear of the contact of bank 54 and the leading edge92 is in register with the 8 contact. A signal will appear on line 74because there will be a signal on the 8 numerical output of the counter10. Consequently only one signal, i.e., that on line 74 will be appliedthe inputs of the NAND element 81 and a signal will be transmitted fromthe output thereof to one of the inputs of the NAND element 82 s so thatno signal will be generated at the output of the NAND element 82. Thecommand relay 87 of unit 19 will not therefore, be energized and asignal will not be transmitted to the AND element 20 from the unit 19via the line 85.

Thus, with the machine in this condition, the command relays 87 of theunits 17 and 18 are energized and vending of commodities of values and 7will be permitted. The command relay 87 of the unit 19 will not beenergized and the machine will not therefore, be able to dispense acommodity of value 10. There will be no signal at the output of the ANDelement 20 and the coin block mechanism 21 will not be operated so thatthe intending customer can if he wishes insert further coinage. Shouldthe customer now insert further coinage of denomination greater than 1then the commandrelay 87 of the unit 19 will be energized to permitdispensing of a commodity of value 10.

Assuming that the intending customer does not insert further coinagebut, instead, actuates a commodity selection element corresponding tocommodities of price 5, then one of the commodity selection switches 22,23, depending upon which type of commodity of price 5 is selected willbe operated and a signal will be applied to the OR element 30 to convertthe counter to its subtraction condition and to the line 64 of the unit27. The signal applied by the MEMORY circuit 1 1 to the counter is alsoapplied to the coin block mechanism 21, the reject block 31 and theescrow operating mechanism 32 The signal applied to line 64 will bedirected by wiper 65 and contactor 55 to the 5 input of the counter andbecause the counter is converted to its subtraction condition uponactuation of one of the switches 22 through 26, the value of thecommodity selected will be subtracted from the totalized valueregistered by the binary stages prior to the actuation of thecorresponding commodity selection element.

Prior to the actuation of the commodity selection element, the binarystages of the counter 10 were all in their 0" states except for the 2binary stages which was in its 1 state. The application of a subtractionpulse corresponding to a value of five to the 5 input corresponding tothe difference between the value of coinage inserted into the machineand the value of the commodity selected.

During the subtraction process, a signal is transmitted to the machinedispensing mechanism. in response to actuation of one of the commodityselection elements and because the command relay 87 of the price settingswitch which is set to a value of live, the selected commodity isdispensed. At asuitable stage during the dispensing cycle, a RESETsignal R is applied to the counter 10, to the NAND element 83 via theline 84 and to the MEMORY circuit 1 l to reset the counter 10 to zero,to remove the signal generated at the output of the NAND element 82 andhence deenergize the associated command relay 87 and to convert thecounter from its subtraction condition to its totalizing condition. y iI In the embodiment of the drawings, means are provided for paying outof coins corresponding to the residual value registered by the binarystages of the counter 10 after the subtraction process has beencompleted and before the application of the RESET signal R to theMEMORYcircuit 11. The coin payout system includes a payout delay mechanism 33the output of which is connected to one input of each of a pair of ANDelements 34 and 35. The other input of the AND element 34 is connectedto the 2 binary stage output of the counter 10 and the output thereof isconnected to the input of a mono-stable circuit 36 the output of whichis connected to a mechanism 37 for paying out coinage of value 1.

The 2, v2 and 2 binary stage outputs of the counter 10 are connected tothe inputs of an OR element 48 the output of which is connected to theother input of the AND element 35. The outputof the AND element 35 isconnected to a gated oscillator 38 one output of which is connected to amechanism 39 for paying out coinage of value 2 and the other output ofwhich is connected by a line 88 to the 2 numerical input of the counter10.

The time delay afforded by the delay mechanism 33 is such as to allowthe subtraction of the price of the selected commodity from thetotalized value recorded by the counter. The presence of a signal onanyone of the 2, ,2 or 2 binary stage outputs results in thetransmission of a signal from the output of the OR element 48 to the ANDelement 35. Similarly the presence of a signal at the 2 binary stageoutput results in the transmission of a signal to one input of the ANDelement 34.

Once the time delay afforded by the delay mechanism 33 has expired, asignal from the output of the delay mechanism 33 isappliedsimultaneously to the other inputs of the AND elements 34 and 35so that, if there is a signal at the 2'binary stage output, a

signal will be generated at the output of the AND ele' ment to switchthe mono-stable circuit 36 on for a sufficient length of time toenergize the mechanism 37 to dispense a coin of denomination l.Likewise,if there is a signal at one or more of the 2, 2 and 2 binarystage outputs, a signal will be generated at the output of the ANDelement 35 to operate the oscillator 38.

Operation of the oscillator 38 results in the application of a pulse tothe coin dispensing mechanism 39 to energize the same for a sufficientlength of time to energize the mechanism 39 to dispense a coin ofdenomination 2 and a pulse is applied to the 2" numerical input 40 ofthe counter 10 via the line 88. Because the coin dispensing system isoperated before the MEMORY circuit 11 is reset by the RESET signal R,the application of a pulse to the 2? input 40 of the counter 10 resultsin the subtraction of 2 from the residual value as registered by thebinary stages. The oscillator 38 will continue to be operated until allsignals at the 2, 2 and 2 outputs disappear, i.e., coins of value 2 aredispensed by the mechanism 39 until the residual value registered by thebinary stages is either i or 0.

No provision is made to convert the 2 binary stage to its state duringdispensing of change because the application of the RESET pulse to thecounter serves to restore all of the binary states of the counter 10 totheir 0 stages.

Returning now to the example cited above in the description relating tothe totalization of coinage inserted into the machine and subtractiontherefrom of the value of a selected commodity. After the subtractionhas been completed, the 2 and 2 binary stages of the counter were intheir l states and the 2 and 2 binary stages were in their 0" states,i.e., the residual value recorded by the counter 10 was 3. With thebinary stages of the counter in this condition, there will be signals atthe 2 and 2 binary stage outputs 50 and these signals will be applied tothe AND elements 34 and 35 respectively. After the time delay affordedby the delay mechanism 33 has expired, a signal will be generated at theoutput of the AND element 34 to energize the coin dispensing mechanism37 and dispense a coin of denomination l and a signal will also begenerated at the output of the AND element 35. The signal generated atthe output of the AND element 35 will operate the oscillator 38 toenergize the dispensing mechanism 39 to dispense a coin of denomination2 and to apply a signal to the 2 input of the counter 10. The receipt ofa signal at the 2 input will cause the conversion of the 2 binary stageto its 0" state and consequently the signal at the 2 binary stage outputwill disappear. At this time, only the 2 binary stage will be in a 1state but further dispensing of coins of denomination l by the mechanism37 is prevented by the mono-stable circuit 36. Thus, when the RESETsignal R is applied to the counter 10, to the MEMORY circuit 11 and tothe lines 84 of the price setting switches, the control circuit of thevending machine is returned to the stand-by condition in readiness for afurther transaction.

As described, the coin dispensing system uses coins of values 1 and 2.However, it is envisaged that change can be dispensed in coins of ratiosother than 1:2 for example, coins can be dispensed in denominations of land 4 by connecting the 2 and 2 binary stage outputs 50 to one ORelement the output of which is connected to the AND element 34 and byconnecting the 2 and 2 binary stage outputs 50 to another OR element theoutput of which is connected to an input of the AND element 35. In thisexample, it would be necessary to replace the mono-stable circuit 36 bya gated oscillator of similar form to the oscillator 38 having one ofthe outputs thereof connected to the l input of the counter 10.

As an alternative to having a coin dispensing system which includesprovision for paying out coinage of two different values, the paying outof coinage can be effected by a plurality of operations of the payingout mechanism 37 for the coin of denomination l, in which case all ofthe binary stage outputs 50 would be connected to inputs of a single ORelement and the monostable circuit 36 would be replaced by a gatedoscillator of similar form to the oscillator 38 with an output thereofconnected to the l input 40 of the counter.

Provision can also be made for a payout operation to be effected only ondemand. For example, the machine can include a customer-actuated coinpayout element which, when no further vends are required or arepossible, renders the coin dispensing mechanism operable.

The command relays 87 of each price setting switch can, if desired, beadditionally used to cause illumination of display lamps associated witheach commodity that the machine can vend so that, when a customer hasinserted coinage into the machine, the appropriate display lamps areilluminated to indicate those commodities for which sufficient coinagehas been inserted into the machine.

Although, as described above, the machine is adapted to receive amaximum value of coinage corresponding to a value of 15, the value ofcoinage which the machine can accept can be increased by increasing thenumber of stages of the binary counter. The counter could alternativelyconsist of two reversible binary decimal stages giving a count range of0 to 99 or any other appropriate range.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A coin-operated vending machine comprising:

a. reversible electronic counting means having a normal totalizingcondition in which input signals increase the output of the countingmeans and a subtraction condition in which input signals reduce saidoutput;

. a plurality of coinage sensing means connected to the counting meansto provide counter input signals which produce a counting means outputcorresponding to the total of the denominations of the coinage insertedinto the machine at the start of a vend cycle of the machine;

. a plurality of selectively operable commodity selection elements eachcorresponding to a commodity to be vended;

d. comparator means operative upon operation of any one of saidselection elements to compare the price of the commodity selected withthe output of the counting means and, if the output is at least as greatas said price, permit a signal to pass from the element to I. operate avend circuit to dispense the commodi- 2. set the counting means to itssubtraction condition, and

v 3. provide a counter input signal corresponding to the price of thecommodity selected which price is thus subtracted from the output;

e. a detector connected to the counting means and operable after thesubtraction of said price to detect if the residual output of thecounting means exceeds a predetermined value;

f. pay-out means associated with the detector to pay out change if saidresidual output is greater than the predetermined value; and

g. reset means operable at the end of the vend cycle to reset thecounting means to its totalizing condition.

2. A machine according to claim 1 including manually operable means forinitiating operation of the pay-out means whereby more than onecommodity selection element can be operated during a vend cycle andprovide counter input signals corresponding to the total price of thecommodities selected.

3. A machine according to claim 1 including memory means associated withsaid comparator means for enabling the vend cycle to proceed during thesubtraction once the counter output determined by the coinage insertedin the machine has equalled or exceeded the price of the commodityselected.

4. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the counting means includes amulti-stage counter which has a first, numerical, output which isassociated with the comparator means and a second, stage, output whichis associated with the detector and pay-out means.

5. A machine according to claim 4 including first and second detectorsassociated respectively with a first and a second of said pay-out means,the first detector and the first pay-out means being associated with thefirst stage of the stage output and the second detector and the secondpayout means being associated with the remaining stages of the stageoutput, the second pay-out means being arranged to provide a counterinput signal corresponding to the changepaid out thus to subtract thevalue thereof from the output until the residual output is reduced tosaid predetermined value.

6. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the payout means provides acounter input signal corresponding to the changepaid out thus tosubtract the value thereof from the output until the residual output isreduced to said predetermined value.

7. A machine according to claim 6 including pricesetting meanscomprising first and second elements settable in accordance with a priceof a commodity to be vended, said first element being associated withthe comparator means so that the setting of the element is compared withthe output of the counting means and said second element being connectedto the counting means input to provide a counter input signalcorresponding to the price of the commodity selected.

8. A machine according to claim 7 wherein said comparator meanscomprises a plurality of comparators, each with said associatedprice'setting means individually settable to different prices, eachcomparator and its associated price-setting means being associated withdifferent commodity selection elements.

9. A machine according to claim 7 wherein said comarator eans andassociated rice-setti me ns are ssocrate with more than ori commoc ifiyse lectron and second elements of the price-setting means are settablein synchronism by a single manual control.

1. A coin-operated vending machine comprising: a. reversible electroniccounting means having a normal totalizing condition in which inputsignals increase the output of the counting means and a subtractioncondition in which input signals reduce said output; b. a plurality ofcoinage sensing means connected to the counting means to provide countErinput signals which produce a counting means output corresponding to thetotal of the denominations of the coinage inserted into the machine atthe start of a vend cycle of the machine; c. a plurality of selectivelyoperable commodity selection elements each corresponding to a commodityto be vended; d. comparator means operative upon operation of any one ofsaid selection elements to compare the price of the commodity selectedwith the output of the counting means and, if the output is at least asgreat as said price, permit a signal to pass from the element to 1.operate a vend circuit to dispense the commodity,
 2. set the countingmeans to its subtraction condition, and
 3. provide a counter inputsignal corresponding to the price of the commodity selected which priceis thus subtracted from the output; e. a detector connected to thecounting means and operable after the subtraction of said price todetect if the residual output of the counting means exceeds apredetermined value; f. pay-out means associated with the detector topay out change if said residual output is greater than the predeterminedvalue; and g. reset means operable at the end of the vend cycle to resetthe counting means to its totalizing condition.
 1. A coin-operatedvending machine comprising: a. reversible electronic counting meanshaving a normal totalizing condition in which input signals increase theoutput of the counting means and a subtraction condition in which inputsignals reduce said output; b. a plurality of coinage sensing meansconnected to the counting means to provide countEr input signals whichproduce a counting means output corresponding to the total of thedenominations of the coinage inserted into the machine at the start of avend cycle of the machine; c. a plurality of selectively operablecommodity selection elements each corresponding to a commodity to bevended; d. comparator means operative upon operation of any one of saidselection elements to compare the price of the commodity selected withthe output of the counting means and, if the output is at least as greatas said price, permit a signal to pass from the element to
 1. operate avend circuit to dispense the commodity,
 2. set the counting means to itssubtraction condition, and
 2. A machine according to claim 1 includingmanually operable means for initiating operation of the pay-out meanswhereby more than one commodity selection element can be operated duringa vend cycle and provide counter input signals corresponding to thetotal price of the commodities selected.
 3. A machine according to claim1 including memory means associated with said comparator means forenabling the vend cycle to proceed during the subtraction once thecounter output determined by the coinage inserted in the machine hasequalled or exceeded the price of the commodity selected.
 3. provide acounter input signal corresponding to the price of the commodityselected which price is thus subtracted from the output; e. a detectorconnected to the counting means and operable after the subtraction ofsaid price to detect if the residual output of the counting meansexceeds a predetermined value; f. pay-out means associated with thedetector to pay out change if said residual output is greater than thepredetermined value; and g. reset means operable at the end of the vendcycle to reset the counting means to its totalizing condition.
 4. Amachine according to claim 1 wherein the counting means includes amulti-stage counter which has a first, numerical, output which isassociated with the comparator means and a second, stage, output whichis associated with the detector and pay-out means.
 5. A machineaccording to claim 4 including first and second detectors associatedrespectively with a first and a second of said pay-out means, the firstdetector and the first pay-out means being associated with the firststage of the stage output and the second detector and the second pay-outmeans being associated with the remaining stages of the stage output,the second pay-out means being arranged to provide a counter inputsignal corresponding to the change paid out thus to subtract the valuethereof from the output until the residual output is reduced to saidpredetermined value.
 6. A machine according to claim 1 wherein thepay-out means provides a counter input signal corresponding to thechange paid out thus to subtract the value thereof from the output untilthe residual output is reduced to said predetermined value.
 7. A machineaccording to claim 6 including price-setting means comprising first andsecond elements settable in accordance with a price of a commodity to bevended, said first element being associated with the comparator means sothat the setting of the element is compared with the output of thecounting means and said second element being connected to the countingmeans input to provide a counter input signal corresponding to the priceof the commodity selected.
 8. A machine according to claim 7 whereinsaid comparator means comprises a plurality of comparators, each withsaid associated price-setting means individually settable to differentprices, each comparator and its associated price-setting means beingassociated with different commodity selection elements.
 9. A machineaccording to claim 7 wherein said comparator means and associatedprice-setting means are associated with more than one commodityselection element so as to cooperate with the counting means wheneverany one of said associated commodity selection elemEnts is operated.